The fishing holes that Kelchner describes, Penns Creek and Spring Creek, are his lifelong haunts, near his parents’ home in State College, Pa. So after he, his brother and brother-in-law match wits with the trout, they’re headed with other family members to join 100,000-plus for the Pittsburgh-Penn State game.

“I’ll get on a bike at my mom and dad’s house,” Kelchner said, “ride down the hill, park it at Beaver Stadium and go to the game. What could be better? Hell, yeah. I busted my (butt) for that, man. … I’ll be the happiest man in the world.”

Busted his butt as a football coach for more than three decades in these parts, the first 16 seasons as a William and Mary assistant, the last 17 as Christopher Newport’s head coach. He’s now an associate athletic director at CNU and doesn’t miss the grind of his former life a bit.

Didn’t miss it during spring practice, or training camp, or even last Saturday night, when the Captains began Art Link’s coaching tenure with a 45-17 road victory at Southern Virginia. Won’t miss it this Saturday when CNU hosts Hampden-Sydney.

Kelchner spent part of last Saturday on campus administering a field hockey game, but by the time the Captains kicked off, he was at home watching online and listening to the radio broadcast.

“No withdrawal,” Kelchner said. “Honest to God, none. … Since I walked off the field (last season), through all of spring ball, through all of fall camp and the first week, I’ve watched five minutes of football on this campus. … I have no regrets. I am at peace with it, absolutely.

“Dude, I’ve got so many other things I like to do. It was the right time. I loved coaching these guys. I still love these guys. I still love the game of football. But my time is past. I’m doing other things to help this department and university, and I’m good with it. Totally at peace.”

A football coach’s son, Kelchner began attending practices at age three. He’s 58. That’s 55 years of practices as an onlooker, player or coach.

See the 2017 Christopher Newport University football season in pictures.

What Kelchner knows is football, and neither he nor Captains athletic director Kyle McMullin wanted him supervising Link. Oh, Kelchner will be on campus for CNU’s four remaining home football games, coordinating operations for any sports competing that day. But the new coach needs space, which Kelchner has gladly provided.

A former assistant coach at Lafayette, New Hampshire and Campbell, Link has sought Kelchner’s counsel on CNU’s culture and simple logistics. But in running the program, Link is on his own.

“Really like him,” Kelchner said of Link. “Good, young family. He’s a lot like I was when I was 40. He’s trying to set the tone his way. He’s got a good plan. … This is a big weekend for Art Link and that program. Those kids don’t need the old, pain-in-the-butt football coach looking over their shoulders. I love ’em, I support ’em and I’ll be listening on the radio.”

So please don’t mistake Kelchner’s absence Saturday for indifference. The chance to see family — his parents are in their early 80s, healthy and active — and reunite with the Penn State program he grew up revering was irresistible, and McMullin graciously gave him the weekend off.

Why, the Kelchners are so hooked on football that Friday night they planned to catch the State College-Hollidaysburg high school game.

Kelchner and I spoke Wednesday in his office, literally a converted closet in Ratcliffe Hall, convenient to most of the Captains’ sports venues. Outside a back door was his preferred transportation around campus, a golf cart with oversized tires.

Like most head coaches who leave a post, voluntarily or otherwise, Kelchner worried about what would become of his staff and their families. All landed well.

Link retained Jay Kirland and Mike Costa. Chris Ellis, a former Virginia Tech defensive end from Bethel High, is coaching at New Hampshire, Paul Crowley at William and Mary, Dan Antolik at Division II Nebraska Kearney, J.T. Crews at North Carolina Wesleyan, Tommy Reamon Jr. as a volunteer at Virginia Tech.

Kelchner had a chance to return to the fringes of coaching, as Richmond’s director of football operations. New Spiders coach Russ Huesman and Kelchner have been close since they worked together at William and Mary, but Kelchner turned down the offer, deferring to family – his wife teaches in York County, and their youngest son is a high school sophomore – and CNU loyalty.

“That tore me more than any (job prospect),” Kelchner said, “because Russ Huesman is one of my best friends, and I believe in that guy.”

But hey, if Kelchner had gone to Richmond, he wouldn’t be fishin’ this weekend.

“I’m appreciative of the opportunity, in September, to go be with my family,” Kelchner said, “and not coach a football game.”

Teel can be reached by phone at 757-247-4636 or by email at dteel@dailypress.com. For more from Teel, read his blog at dailypress.com/teeltime and follow him at twitter.com/DavidTeelatDP.